More schools are now using online platforms to distribute and exchange information, such as course documents and online tests. These same online platforms also serve as an administrative tool, containing personal data on students and staff. To prevent identity and data theft, online applications used by schools and universities need to be protected.
VASCO Data Security Inc., a software security and authentication provider, released a statement advising educational institutions to be more careful and aware of security issues when using online platforms for educational purposes.
Containing information on people’s identities, addresses and personal data, should be sufficiently protected against possible online attacks. Many platforms are only secured with a weak static password, and aren’t being using strong passwords or changing it regularly.
An effective countermeasure against hackers is strong two-factor authentication. Dynamic passwords or one-time passwords minimize the risk of password theft, as they are valid for a limited amount of time and can be used only once. VASCO’s DIGIPASS authentication solution allows replacing static passwords with more secure dynamic ones. ![[end]](/resources/bullet/digitalidnews-4.gif)
